1999 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship

CHAMPIONSHIP

May 9, 1999 - Brigham Young avenged its only loss of the season and claimed its first
men's volleyball championship title against Long Beach State May 8 in Los
Angeles.

The top-ranked Cougars made quick work of the No. 2 49ers, winning
the match in three games, 15-9, 15-7, 15-10. It was Brigham Young's first
tournament appearance, and the Cougars are only the second non-California
team to claim the title.

The Cougars won the first two games with ease before finding
themselves down 7-0 in the third game. Brigham Young staged a comeback to
tie the score at seven and the game tetered back to a 10-7 lead for Long
Beach State.

A service ace by Mac Wilson and a block by Rich Lambourne and Ryan
Millar gave the Cougars a tie at 10. Brigham Young took the lead that would
never be relinquished on a kill from Millar. Match point was won on a kill
from the tournament's most outstanding player, Ossie Antonetti, who finished
with a match-high 22 kills.

Brigham Young's blocking made the difference in the match as the
championship squad finished with 23.5 blocks over its opponent's 11.5. The
49ers hit .156 for the match and .000 in the second game.

Brigham Young earned its shot for the title and the chance to avenge
its March 19 loss to the 49ers by defeating Penn State in the semifinals,
10-15, 15-4, 15-11, 15-5, May 6 at UCLA. Antonetti led the way for the
Cougars with 24 kills and 14 digs, while the Nittany Lions, the only other
non-California team to win the championship, struggled with 20 serving
errors.

Indiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne faced off against Long Beach State in the
second semifinal match. The Mastodons forced the match to five games before
succumbing to the 49ers, 15-11, 10-15, 8-15, 15-2, 15-13.